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40-the blue mountains-第3部分
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he could never go these nine hundred miles; for his horse was
giving in already。 'That doesn't matter;' said the old man; 'I
can do better than that。 I have only to blow my whistle and you
will be at my brother's house before nightfall。'
So he blew the whistle; and the Irishman did not know where on
earth he was until he found himself at the other old man's door;
who also told him that it was three hundred years since he had
seen anyone; and asked him where he was going。
'I am going to see if I can find anyone that can tell me where
the Blue Mountains are;' he said。
'If you will stay with me to…night;' said the old man; 'I have a
book of the history of the world; and I shall know where they are
before daylight; if there is such a place in it at all。'
He stayed there all night; but there was not a word in the book
about the Blue Mountains。 Seeing that he was rather cast down;
the old man told him that he had a brother nine hundred miles
away; and that if information could be got about them from anyone
it would be from him; 'and I will enable you;' he said; 'to reach
the place where he lives before night。' So he blew his whistle;
and the Irishman landed at the brother's house before nightfall。
When the old man saw him he said he had not seen a single man for
three hundred years; and was very much surprised to see anyone
come to him now。
'Where are you going to?' he said。
'I am going about asking for the Blue Mountains;' said the
Irishman。
'The Blue Mountains?' said the old man。
'Yes;' said the Irishman。
'I never heard the name before; but if they do exist I shall find
them out。 I am master of all the birds in the world; and have
only to blow my whistle and every one will come to me。 I shall
then ask each of them to tell where it came from; and if there is
any way of finding out the Blue Mountains that is it。'
So he blew his whistle; and when he blew it then all the birds of
the world began to gather。 The old man questioned each of them
as to where they had come from; but there was not one of them
that had come from the Blue Mountains。 After he had run over
them all; however; he missed a big Eagle that was wanting; and
wondered that it had not come。 Soon afterwards he saw something
big coming towards him; darkening the sky。 It kept coming nearer
and growing bigger; and what was this after all but the Eagle?
When she arrived the old man scolded her; and asked what had kept
her so long behind。
'I couldn't help it;' she said; 'I had more than twenty times
further to come than any bird that has come here to…day。'
'Where have you come from; then?' said the old man。
'From the Blue Mountains;' said she。
'Indeed!' said the old man; and what are they doing there?'
'They are making ready this very day;' said the Eagle; 'for the
marriage of the daughter of the King of the Blue Mountains。 For
three years now she has refused to marry anyone whatsoever; until
she should give up all hope of the coming of the man who released
her from the spell。 Now she can wait no longer; for three years
is the time that she agreed with her father to remain without
marrying。'
The Irishman knew that it was for himself she had been waiting so
long; but he was unable to make any better of it; for he had no
hope of reaching the Blue Mountains all his life。 The old man
noticed how sad he grew; and asked the Eagle what she would take
for carrying this man on her back to the Blue Mountains。
'I must have threescore cattle killed;' said she; 'and cut up
into quarters; and every time I look over my shoulder he must
throw one of them into my mouth。'
As soon as the Irishman and the old man heard her demand they
went out hunting; and before evening they had killed three…score
cattle。 They made quarters of them; as the Eagle told them; and
then the old man asked her to lie down; till they would get it
all heaped up on her back。 First of all; though; they had to get
a ladder of fourteen steps; to enable them to get on to the
Eagle's back; and there they piled up the meat as well as they
could。 Then the old man told the Irishman to mount; and to
remember to throw a quarter of beef to her every time she looked
round。 He went up; and the old man gave the Eagle the word to be
off; which she instantly obeyed; and every time she turned her
head the Irishman threw a quarter of beef into her mouth。
As they came near the borders of the kingdom of the Blue
Mountains; however; the beef was done; and; when the Eagle looked
over her shoulder; what was the Irishman at but throwing the
stone between her tail and her neck! At this she turned a
complete somersault; and threw the Irishman off into the sea;
where he fell into the bay that was right in front of the King's
Palace。 Fortunately the points of his toes just touched the
bottom; and he managed to get ashore。
When he went up into the town all the streets were gleaming with
light; and the wedding of the Princess was just about to begin。
He went into the first house he came to; and this happened to be
the house of the King's hen…wife。 He asked the old woman what
was causing all the noise and light in the town。
'The Princess;' said she; 'is going to be married to…night
against her will; for she has been expecting every day that the
man who freed her from the spell would come。'
'There is a guinea for you;' said he; 'go and bring her here。'
The old woman went; and soon returned along with the Princess。
She and the Irishman recognised each other; and were married; and
had a great wedding that lasted for a year and a day。
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